SECIA Board Meeting – 04/07/09
Present:
Wendy M., Stewart S., James D., Jake J., Joan M., Megan C., Jeane M., Tedd J., Lee H., Sean K., Bill D.
Excused:
Jeremiah P., Jeff H.
*Wendy opened the meeting at 6:35pm
*March 2009 Minutes – Wendy M.
Corrections to the March Minutes:
Joan would like the word “approved” after motions are made and seconded because it does not look like SECIA made a decision on the motions proposed at the meeting
Joan M. made motion to pass March minutes as amended – Lee H. 2nd the motion
Minutes for March 2009 approved
*Updates from MSA & GAPSA - Megan C.
- Renters survey will not be updated this year due to technical difficulties
- Tailgating for games at the U – there will be an increase of 20 officers on game days
- Student perspectives on game days – concerns for more trash, vandalism, safety, keeping the U and the neighborhoods attractive after the influx of fans come and go from games
* Liaison Update – Sean K.
- Clean-up plan for Sunday April 26th being formalized
- Sean will cover 22nd Ave and 23rd Ave as a Liason
* Alliance Update – Wendy M.
- Home Tour brochures & Progress Report brought to and distributed at the meeting
- Presentation of the Alliance Interim Report was presented to the MN Senate sub-committee in 03/2009
- Motion proposed to have Como neighborhood to continue as a part of the Alliance
Motion made by Jeane – 2nd by Bill
Motion approved
- SECIA needs to appoint Reps to the Alliance Steering Committee for next year
- Joan made the motion to have Katie be primary Rep and Bill be the alternate Rep to the Alliance Steering Committee –Lee 2nd the motion
- Motion approved
* Talmadge Update & Road Construction on Como Ave SE – James
- Talmadge is marked now for the median to be constructed
- Talmadge is not closed yet for construction
- Questions posed to Jack Y. about lighting of the intersection and other issues raised at the SECIA March Meeting have not yet been answered
- Jake J. had a conversation with the Community Affairs office of Burlington Northern about the springtime spraying.
- Jake also mentioned the SECIA Environmental Committee should be in contact w/Burlington Northern about utilizing organic pesticides
*Councilmember Update – Cam Gordon
1) Cam will do a roundtable at Joe’s Market on 04/23/09 on supporting neighborhood businesses
2) The U is still looking to the MN Legislature in order to get the power to make ordinances on any subject covering all U owned and controlled land
3) Sofa Ordinance: Cam apologized that he could not fully support the ordinance as it stands now. He would support the ordinance if it was not as far reaching as it is currently written
4) Cam thanked the Board for our work with Officer Juarez on submitting a neighborhood plan for Como
- The Board mentioned to Cam that they do support the ordinance
* District Council’s Collaborative Report – Lynn A.
- Lynn wanted the SECIA Exec to be the point of contact if questions arise at the DCC meetings he attends
- Motion: appoint Exec as the point group for Lynn as the Rep to the DCC
Jeane made motion – Joan 2nd motion
- Motion approved
*Committee Updates – Wendy M.
1) Personnel Committee will meet w/SECIA staff on 04/09/09
2) Grant Writing – please see SECIA April meeting packet for more information
- Please see any leads for new grants to SECIA staff
- Lee mentioned there is a major Ash tree disease 1 mile from the MN border. It is possible that this disease could destroy millions of ash trees in the state
3) Green Village Update
- GV event will be Saturday 04/18/09 from 11:30am to 2pm at Van Cleve Park
- There will be a bicycle auction at the Como GV Event
4) HHW Update
- Wendy received an email stating that the HHW is no longer on the radar for the proposed site in east Como
5) Sofa Ordinance
- Still be proposed and organized
6) March 2009 safety figures
- In April SECIA packet
7) Zoning: Moratorium Policy
- Moratorium expires 08/21/09 – and could expire sooner
- There is a developer who wants to build some single family units in Como and he is requesting from SECIA a waiver variance on the Moratorium requirements.
- SECIA has and continues to support the Moratorium but does not have a set of guidelines to give to the SECIA Zoning Committee on criteria for granting waivers
-Do we want SECIA to be open to waiver requests or not?
-Bill “I don’t think neighborhoods should take a stance on waivers. It is a City issue”
-Joan “The City is going to want to know if we, as a neighborhood, support the project where the developer is requesting a waiver”
-Lee “I say we set a precedent and say no to any waiver”
-Wendy “I am in agreement with Lee’s suggestion”
-SECIA’s position on this waiver request: That we discussed it and if we did take a vote the Board would oppose the waiver variance
*Event Updates - James
-Home Tour – 2 homes in Como on the Tour
-Volunteers needed to stage the homes on the Tour
-Como Clean-Up Sunday 04/26/09 Subway will provide food for the event
-Como Ping-Pong Tourney May 9th sponsored by the U Liaison program
*New Business - James
-CW Lofts still looking to become a part of our neighborhood. They are also interested in SECIA’s Rain Garden program
-James proposed that the SECIA Exec Committee meet with a delegation from the CW Lofts Board within the next 2 – 3 months
Adjourned 8: 45pm